Fluid around heart and lungs

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Fluid around heart and lungs

By tg4love
Posted June 18, 2009 at 8:35 pm · 3 replies
In Side effects of treatment
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I just got my CT Scan back and my doctor said I have fluid around my heart and right lung. I'm on Taxotere and Avastin. Do any of you have this as a side effect? I am having a heart echo and CT Scan as well as X-Rays tomorrow. My cancer has not changed much after 18 treatments, not any worse, however, either. I also am having problems getting things down my throat because it feels like a hugh ball I'm trying to swallowing. I've looked in my throat and its red(not like a sore throat) and puffed out toward the center of my throat. I am not eating much now and I'm very low with the white count and anemic too. I'm becoming worried. The heart and lungs are new. Please let me hear from you, please.

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Taxotere Cancer Avastin Stroke

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By Jennali
Posted June 18, 2009 at 10:50 pm
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I am so sorry you are going through this. I have not had the chemos that you have, so I am afraid I have no words of wisdom about your symptoms. Hopefully your tests tomorrow will give the doc the information s/he needs to craft your plan of attack.

Have they given you Neupogen or Neulasta for your low white blood cells? If they have not, I would ask about them. You are very vulnerable to infection with a low WBC.

Can you swallow liquids more comfortably? Perhaps something like Ensure?

I know you are scared. It's okay to be. We are fighting a very scary beast.

Wishing for you peace and strength.

By FavoriteAunt
Posted June 19, 2009 at 7:20 am
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So sorry you have so much to deal with at one time. it is scary and I don't blame you.

I did have Taxotere early last year and did have some problems swallowing. My doctor gave me liquid Lidocaine and that helped. Watch the dosage though - mine was for 3 spoonsful and it was too numbing. I cut it to just one and used it as needed. It's important that you eat and drink properly, so tell the doctor about this. I called after several days and they said I should have called them sooner.

Like Jennali said, you should be getting Neupogen injections after your treatments for the low white cell count. I've had it many times and it works.

Please check in with your doctor so they can help you. Try to hang in there - you'll get things resolved. Hope you're feeling better very soon.

By kathy6
Posted June 20, 2009 at 10:31 pm
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Hi. I'm sorry to hear that you are going through all of this. I have not heard from anyone about the fluid build up in those areas from either of the chemo drugs that you mentioned. It's probably ascities and will need to be drained- make sure that they biopsy the fluid..

As far as swallowing pills. If you put a pill into your mouth and touch your chin down to your chest- the pill will slip down. It opens up the area. It seems strange, but this is how they teach anyone who has had a stroke to swallow pills...

I hope this helps. Keep us posted on what's going on.

Hugs,
Kathy

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